Bill O’Brien: “I Don’t Know Anything About The Catch Rule”

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 14: Head Coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans looks on during pregame warm ups prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers in a preseason game at Levi's Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Houston (CBS HOUSTON) – The Houston Texans beat the Kansas City Chiefs 19-12 on Sunday afternoon thanks to a strong defensive showing that caused three fumbles in the first half. It very well could have been four fumbles, but one was overturned by review and ruled to be an incomplete pass to Demetrius Harris.

Harris caught the ball and took three or four steps as he was falling down. Before he hit the ground, Texans safety Andre Hal knocked the ball out of Harris’ hands. Kareem Jackson recovered the fumble at the 8-yard line. The review because the ball to return to Kansas City because Harris lost the ball while going to the ground to make the catch. The NFL rule states a player going to the ground while making a catch must possess the ball all the way to the ground or it will be an incompletion.

HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 18: Demetrius Harris #84 has the ball moments before it being knocked away by Andre Hal #29 of the Houston Texans. The play would be called an incomplete pass after review. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

After the game, SportsRadio 610’s Mike Meltser asked Texans head coach Bill O’Brien what he understands about the catch rule.

“I don’t know anything about the catch rule,” O’Brien said. “Somebody is going to have to really sit down with me and explain to me the catch rule.”

The Texans also lost a potential touchdown because of the confusion in the catch rule. DeAndre Hopkins was ruled out of bounds on his original attempt catching a pass in the end zone, but replays appeared to show Hopkins caught the ball with his knee in bounds on the play. After O’Brien challenged, the play stood as an incompletion. The Texans settled for a field goal on the drive.

O’Brien continued lamenting about the catch rule, saying a catch to him is like it was when he was a kid playing with his friends, “we all knew he caught that ball.” O’Brien stopped himself before going further, even hinting that he might get fined for his comments on the officiating.